Seattle Hempfest and Las Vegas Hemp Festival End Franchise Agreement

WASHINGTON: After a three year licensing partnership, the Seattle HEMPFEST and theLas Vegas Hemp Festival have come to a mutual agreement to terminate the Las Vegas Hempfest co-branding, according to a news release issued by the Seattle-based non-profit.

Established in 1991, the Seattle Hempfest is the largest annual cannabis related event, drawing an annual attendance of over 100,000. The company owns a federal copyright on the term HEMPFEST, and had contracted with the Las Vegas HEMPFEST to use the name in a licensing agreement in an effort to increase brand awareness and reach. After a three year run both organizations have mutually agreed to part ways, with the Las Vegas HEMPFEST assuming a different event name of Las Vegas Hemp Festival.

“We wish the Vegas event much success, and we support all responsible cannabis reform events and social gatherings”, says Vivian McPeak, the executive director of Seattle’s flagship cannabis culture event. “The two organizations have a differing vision of what a traditional “Hempfest” event should be, so we have amicably dissolved the licensing relationship to allow Las Vegas event to follow its vision unhindered by the contractual agreements,” continued McPeak.

The Seattle HEMPFEST is one of the most socially responsible cannabis related events in the world. TheSeattle HEMPFEST licensing model includes what the organization considers “community values” components, which include:

Voter registration (Our Voter Reg Crew has registered over 5,000 Washingtonians to vote since 2004). Responsible Messaging that targets policies not personalities, and refrains from personal attacks against anyone. As well as Lost and Found, First Aid services, Water availability, ADA access, neighborhood stakeholder outreach and diplomacy, extensive sanitation and clean-up efforts, an internal trained Safety Patrol, and positive relations with local law enforcement.

The Seattle HEMPFEST is produced by Seattle Events a Non-Profit Corporation, a federal non-profit organization, and the event utilizes as many as 1,000 volunteers annually, and costs $750,000 to produce. Info on the 2017 platform, event history, economic impact study, published media, and community values distinctions can be found here.

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